CIRQUE DU SOLEIL UNVEILS KOOZA
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DAVID SHINER
Under the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau on the Quays of the Old Port

Toronto, April 11, 2007 - The latest Cirque du Soleil touring show, KOOZA, will have its world premiere under the Grand Chapiteau on the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal on May 3, 2007. KOOZA is the 20th Cirque du Soleil production and joins the 12 others currently running throughout the world.

The Name
The name KOOZA is inspired by the Sanskrit word "koza," which means "box," "chest" or "treasure," and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a "circus in a box."

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning.

About KOOZA
KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful melange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

"KOOZA is about human connection and the world of duality, good and bad," says the show’s writer and director David Shiner. "The tone is fun and funny, light and open. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s very much about ideas, too. As it evolves we are exploring concepts such as fear, identity, recognition and power."

The show starts with The Trickster bursting onto the scene like a jack-in-a-box right in front of The Innocent, and that is just the first of many surprises to follow. The Innocent’s journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Heimloss, the Pickpocket, the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.

Cast and acts
Several of the 50 performing artists in the show have received awards from important circus arts competitions, notably in juggling and trapeze.

The show presents an unprecedented approach to the High Wire and a breathtaking Wheel of Death - an act that Cirque du Soleil has never before presented under the big top.


The Creators
The show brings together the following team of 13 Creators, several of whom are working with Cirque for the first time.

David Shiner Writer and Director
Serge Roy Director of Creation
Stephane Roy Set Designer
Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt Costume Designer
Jean-Francois Cote Composer
Clarence Ford Choreographer
Martin Labrecque Lighting Designer
Jonathan Deans Co-Sound Designer
Leon Rothenberg Co-Sound Designer
Roge Francoeur Props Designer
Danny Zen Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging
Andre Simard Acrobatic performance Designer
Florence Cornet Makeup Designer

North American Tour
Following the Montreal run, KOOZA will travel to Quebec City and Toronto before touring the USA.

Sponsors and Partners
Desjardins Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2007 Canadian tour of KOOZA. CGI, Infiniti, Delta and Celebrity Cruises are the official sponsors.

The media partners are the Toronto Star and Global Television.

Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has over 3,500 employees from over 40 different countries, including 900 artists.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to close to 60 million spectators in over 100 cities on five continents. In 2007, Cirque du Soleil will present 15 shows simultaneously throughout the world. The company has received such prestigious awards as the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gemeaux, Felix, and Rose d’Or de Montreux.

Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit cirquedusoleil.com.


KOOZA IN TORONTO

Opening August 9, 2007
Under the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau
at the Port Lands (on Cherry Street)


HOW TO OBTAIN TICKETS
Online at www.cirquedusoleil.com
By calling 1 800 361-4595


TICKET PRICES (Taxes Included)
$65 - $100 for adults;
$45.50 - $70 for children aged 2 to12 inclusive;
$58.50 - $90 for students 13 and older, as well as seniors, weekdays only.

A VIP Tapis Rouge package includes one of the best seats in the house, as well as access to the VIP suite one hour before the show and during intermission. The adult package is available for $225 and the child package for $157.50 (aged 2 to 12 years old). Prices include taxes.


PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
There is no performance on Mondays and on Tuesday, August 28. There will be one performance at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 10.


GROUP RESERVATIONS
Reservations for groups of 20 adults and over:
contact the Cirque du Soleil box office at 1 866 6-CIRQUE
or online www.cirquedusoleil.com/groups.

Charivari
photo by: Olivier Samson Arcand
Costume credit: Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt